Water ski pole



y 1959 ca. L. LU'NDBORG 2,893,021

wA rER sx: POLE Filed Aug. 14, 1957 INVENTOR GTLLunJZor v ATTORNEY United States aterit WATER SKI POLE Gustav L. Lundborg, Norristown, Pa.

Application August 14, 1957, Serial No. 673,149

7 Claims. (Cl. 9-24) This invention relates to a novel construction of ski pole primarily adapted for use with pontoon type water skis and in pairs for propelling a person riding the water skis in a standing position. More particularly, it is an aim of the present invention to provide a water ski pole of unique construction whereby the maximum amount of forward thrust can be exerted by the movement of a part of the ski pole through the water in one direction for propelling the user over the water in the opposite direction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a water ski pole including novelly constructed and arranged parts which engage and are engaged by the forearm and hand of the user to enable the user to exert a maximum amount of thrust against a submerged part of the ski pole. Various objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawing, illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, showing the water ski pole as it will appear in use;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view, on a somewhat enlarged scale, of the ski pole;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detailed cross sectional view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a view corresponding to Figure 3 except that it illustrates the upper portion of a right hand ski pole;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 5-5 of Figure 2; and 1 Figure 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view in detail taken substantially along the line 66 of Figure 1.

Referring more specifically to the drawing, the water ski pole in its entirety is designated generally 8 and is adapted to be formed of any suitable material possessing sufiicient rigidity but which is relatively light in weight, such as aluminum. The water ski; pole 8 generally comprises a head or blade 9, an elongated shank or loom 10, a handle 11 and a forearm embracing member 12.

The shank or loom preferably comprises a long slender and rigid tube or rod including a straight intermediate portion 13 and substantially straight end portions 14 and 15. The intermediate portion 13 is disposed at an angle slightly less than a 180 angle to each of the end portions 14 and 15 and said end portions are disposed relative to one another to form nearly an oblique angle. Accordingly, when the upper end portion 15 is disposed as seen in Figure 1 inclined downwardly and forwardly, the intermediate portion 13 extends downwardly and forwardly from the upper end portion 15 and is disposed more nearly perpendicular than the portion 15, and the lower end portion 14 extends downwardly at an angle from the intermediate portion 13 and is disposed even more nearly perpendicular than said portion 13. The intermediate portion 13 is longer than the upice per end portion 15 and is preferably shorter than the lower end portion 14, as best seen in Figure 1.

The head or blade 9 is preferably formed of sheet aluminum and includes a substantially flat disk shaped bottom or rear plate 16 and a top plate 17. The marginal edge portions of the plates 16 and 17 are secured together in any suitable manner, as by the edge portion of one plate being folded over and clamped to the edge portions of the other plate, as seen in Figure 5, to form a sealed joint 18 between the marginal edges of the plates 16 and 17. The plate 17 is bulged outwardly and away from the plate 16 to combine therewith to form a sealed buoyancy chamber 19. A socket 20 has one end suitably secured to or formed integral with a portion of the joint 18 and projects at substantially an oblique angle therefrom relative to the bottom or rear plate 16 and is disposed at a lesser angle to an adjacent portion of the bulged top plate 17, so that said socket 20 extends generally at an incline upwardly from the bottom plate 16 when said bottom plate is disposed to face downwardly, as seen in Figures 1 and 5. The lower distal end of the bottom loom section 14 is secured in the socket 20. Said lower loom or shank section 14 extends upwardly from the socket 20 at an angle relative to the blade or head 9 corresponding to the angle formed by said blade or head with the socket 20. Accordingly, the blade or head 9 normally extends downwardly and forwardly at an angle from the socket 20 and from the lower end of the shank portion 14 when the shank or loom 10 is disposed as previously described and as illustrated in Figure 1. Also, the upper loom portion 15 is disposed with its axis nearly parallel to the plane of the bottom or rear plate 16, as seen in Figure 1.

The forearm embracing member 12 preferably comprises a relatively wide substantially rigid metal strap member which is preferably of substantially horseshoe shape, as seen in Figure 3, and which includes complementary legs 21 and 22 extending from opposite ends of an arcuate intermediate portion 23 and having outwardly curved terminal portions 24 constituting the ends of the strap member from which the forearm. embracing member 12 is formed. Said reversely or oppositely curved terminals 24define an opening 25 of the member 12. The outer side of the upper leg 21 of the member 12 is disposed against the underside of the upper end of the loom portion 15 and crosswise thereof and is secured to said loom portion 15 in any suitable manner as by welding, as seen at 26. The leg 21 of the member 12 is secured to the upper end of the loorn portion 15 at a point relatively remote from its distal end 24. The other, bottom leg 22 of the member 12 is disposed beneath the leg 21 in a normal position of said member 12, as seen in Figures 1 and 3. p

The handle 11 comprises a substantially triangular shaped rod which is secured at its apex as by welding, as seen at 27, to the underside of the intermediate shank portion 13, near the upper end thereof. The handle 11 is secured to said shank portion 13 so as to extend downwardly therefrom at an angle less than a right angle to the part of the shank portion 13 disposed therebeneath. The handle 11 includes a substantially straight bottom portion 28 constituting the grip portion thereof and which is disposed crosswise of the loom or shank 10.

The water ski pole 8 as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, 5 and 6, is adapted for use with the left hand and arm and the opening 25 of the forearm engaging member 12 is positioned to open inwardly and toward the body of the user, as seen in Figures 1 and 3, and is preferably of a size so that the wrist can be inserted laterally into the member 12 through the opening 25. Ac-

cordingly, the only difference between the ski pole 8 which is intended to be used with the left hand and arm and the other ski pole, partially illustrated in Figure 4 and which is intended for use with the right hand and arm, resides in the fact that a forearm engaging member 12a of the right hand ski pole is secured to the upper end of the upper loom portion 15a thereof so that the opening 25a will likewise be disposed to open inwardly or toward the body of the user. It will be understood that a pair of the ski poles are intended to be used for propelling a person while disposed in a standing position on pontoon type water skis or other buoyant support or vessel.

In Figure 1, a portion of one of a pair of such pontoon type skis is illustrated and designated generally 29, and the left foot 30 of a rider 31 is shown resting on and attached to a top portion 32 of the ski. The ski 29 may be of the type as disclosed in my prior US. Patent No. 2,559,977. However, it will be understood that the water ski pole 8 may be employed with any other type of buoyant device capable of supporting a rider. It will also be understood that the forearm embracing member 12 may be an endless band through which the hand and wrist could be inserted downwardly toward the handle 11.

With the left forearm 33 of the rider 31 disposed in the forearm embracing member 12, it will be readily apparent that the forearm and wrist will be disposed beneath and substantially parallel to the upper loom portion 15 and that the hand 34 can grasp the grip portion 28 of the handle, as seen in Figure 1. With the blade or head 9 initially disposed somewhat upwardly and to the left of its position of Figure l at or just above the surface of the water, as indicated by the broken line 35, the ski pole 8 is swung downwardly and rearwardly from left to right of Figure 1 in a plane substantially parallel to the axis of the ski 29 so that the blade or head 9 will travel in anarc downwardly and rearwardly,

substantially as indicated by the broken arrow tipped line I 36 and with the flat under or rear side 16 being forceably thrust rearwardly against the water to propel the ski 29 and its rider 31 in the opposite direction or forwardly, from right to left of Figure 1. It will be apparent that considerable rear thrust can be exerted against the under or rear side 16 of the blade 9 due to the fact that the upper portion 21 of the forearm embracing member 12 will fulcrum against the upper side of the forearm 33 as the handle 11 is pulled downwardly and rearwardly. Thus, considerable leverage can be exerted for swinging the blade or head 9 in a direction as indicated by the arrow tipped line 36. After completion of the rearward propulsion stroke when the blade or head 9 has returned to the surface of the water, the ski pole can be returned to its forewardmost starting position of the propulsion stroke by movement of the ski pole outwardly and away from the body and so that the blade or head 9 will travel above the surface of the water on the return stroke, or in any other manner convenient to the user. It will be understood that the other right hand ski pole will be operated in the same manner with the right hand and arm of the rider 31 simultaneously or alternately with respect to the ski pole 8, as desired or preferred.

The buoyancy chamber 19 will minimize the weight of the ski pole 8 as supported by the user during the propulsion stroke so that a maximum amount of the force exerted by the hand and arm will be utilized for pro pelling the rider. Also, the buoyancy chamber 19 will prevent the ski pole from sinking and becoming lost should it be accidentally dropped.

Various modifications and changes are contemplated and may obviously be resorted to, without departing from the function or scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A water ski pole comprising an elongated slender shank having an upper end portion and a lower end portion, a blade secured to and projecting at an angle from the distal end of said lower end portion including a substantially flat rear side disposed at an obtuse angle to the lower shank portion and in a plane substantially parallel to said upper shank portion, a forearm embracing member secured to the upper portion of the shank, and a handle secured to and projected from said shank below and spaced from said forearm embracing member.

2. A water ski pole as in claim 1, said forearm embracing member comprising a relatively wide rigid band secured to an under and rear side of the upper end portion of the shank.

3. A water ski pole as in claim 2, said handle being secured to and projecting from an under and rear side of the shank and including a grip portion spaced from and disposed crosswise of the shank.

4. A water ski pole as in claim 1, said blade comprising a substantially flat plate constituting said rear side thereof, and a front plate secured to the front side of said fiat plate at the marginal edges of said plates, said front plate being -bulged away from the flat plate to combine therewith to define an air chamber.

5. A water ski pole as in claim 1, said blade being provided with a buoyancy chamber and being substantially disc-shaped.

6. A water ski pole as in claim 5, a socket secured to the marginal portion of the blade and projecting therefrom at an oblique angle to the plane of said flat rear side and in which the distal end of the lower shank portion is secured.

7. A water ski pole as in claim 1, said forearm engaging member comprising a rigid substantially horseshoeshaped strap member secured to the under and rear side of the upper end portion of the shank and crosswise thereof and so that said forearm embracing member opens laterally of the shank.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 545,706 Mannes Sept. 3, 1895 FOREIGN PATENTS 517,961 Canada Nov. 1, 1955 

